Community & Nonprofit

Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans throughout Texas learned that they were free—news that took approximately two months after the Confederate surrender of the Civil War and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation to reach them.  As our nation recognizes the legacy of Juneteenth during a time of heightened consciousness over pervasive racism and persecution in our nation, we urge everyone to continue to do their part in igniting change.

In the wake of the recent mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, members of March for Our Lives, a youth-led organization dedicated to eliminating the epidemic of gun violence, are urging people to join them in a protest on Saturday in Washington D.C. and across the nation. The group’s aim is to implore Congress to pass universal background checks.

June marks the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride Month! As we honor this month, and celebrate diversity and individuality, we invite you to check out some of our leading voices from the LGBTQ+ community:

Imagine having lived two lives: 1) A highly successful Black corporate executive 2) A former gang member who served multiple prison sentences. Larry G. Miller seemed like he had it all. With hard work, leadership skills and lots of smarts, he climbed the corporate ladder and had risen to the pinnacle of success: leading Nike’s Jordan Brand from a $150 million sneaker company to a $4 billion global apparel juggernaut. And yet for the past five-plus decades, he has also been haunted by a violent act he committed at just 16-years-old and the subsequent years he spent in prison—a fact that he kept secret after being turned down for a job because of his record.

Experts in their fields, these voices lead the charge in supporting environmental protection. 

APB is honored to exclusively represent Reverend William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach, co-chair of Poor People’s Campaign, and a New York Times bestselling author. “Barber is the closest person we have to Martin Luther King Jr. in our midst," said renowned public intellectual and author Dr. Cornel West.

Russian journalist and APB exclusive speaker Dmitry Muratov has announced he will auction his Nobel Peace Prize Medal and donate the funds to help Ukrainian refugees. Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta—an independent Russian newspaper known for its reporting on governmental corruption and human rights violations—won the prize last year, along with Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa. The pair were honored for their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.” 

We are excited to share with you the release of Mickey Rowe's distinct and important new memoir, Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor’s Journey to Broadway's Biggest Stage. Rowe, founder and artistic director of the National Disability Theatre, was the epicenter of significant publicity when he became the first autistic actor to play Christopher Boone, the lead role in the Tony Award-winning play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

Ten years ago, on February 26th, a young Black man—17-year-old Trayvon Martin—was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida while innocently walking back to his dad’s girlfriend’s home. During that walk, he was spotted by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman believed Martin was acting suspiciously. The two got into an altercation and Trayvon—who was unarmed—was killed. He was 17. (Zimmerman was eventually acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013.) It was a shot heard around the world—sparking the Black Lives Matter movement and igniting a new era in civil rights that continues to grow today. 

Many of our speakers attribute their opportunities, successes and passion for change to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Founded during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement in 1965, APB is honored to have worked with Dr. King during his lifetime, as well as many other civil rights leaders who shared his vision. Devoted to spreading positive messages about love and equality, our speakers continue to honor Dr. King's legacy. Read their reflections below.